Hi all,
I have an older home that currently has a mid-efficiency furnace. It has an exhaust pipe going up to what I assume is the chimney…but underneath the furnace exhaust pipe, there is a second exhaust pipe in the wall that is capped (cap comes off easily). When I look into the pipe, I can see that it clearly goes up (the same direction as the pipe above it connected to the furnace).
My question is, what is this? Can I use an inline fan to blow the moist air out of the basement through this other pipe?
Lol I’m high, disregard previous post. You should be able to, I would still use a backdraft dampener to prevent any backflow into your grow area, your basement or furnace room, etc… I didn’t take any classes or anything like that but I was a HVAV installer for about 5 years back when I was a teenager, I have done a few side jobs here and there but never got any certificates… Incase your wondering if I have any experience with ducting!
My first thoughts are to be careful with using your furnace exhaust.
If you don’t get it right, whenever the furnace is running you could get carbon monoxide being exhausted into your basement if you are pushing forced air into the ducting. An HVAC pro would have better advice, of course.
Although, that second opening that is below the furnace exhaust appears unused. Might want to investigate that, too. Two flues out the chimney?
edit: opps, nevermind. You were talking about the second exhaust in the first place. Sorry 'bout that. Reading too fast.
As everyone else said you’ve to be careful because the backdraft from wind could lead to monoxide in your room dunno if it’s harmful to plants but it can kill us so wouldn’t advise using the chimney as an outtake.
They do none return valves for pumps though so I imagine they prolly have something to stop backdraft.
Not sure if this helps at all, but my chimney has 2 shafts…one for what I assume is for the furnace and the second could be for that second exhaust pipe in the basement (maybe for the old gas hot water tank, it was swapped to electric in 2010, or maybe earlier)…however our house also has a decommissioned fireplace…so the second chimney shaft could be for the fireplace. I may have to talk to a professional.
…and I’m going to buy another carbon monoxide detector for the utility room.
Having a hard time figuring out where to expel my used stank air.
I used to fit wood burning stoves for a living. The single wall chimney system that’s installed and you plan on using are fitted and fine tuned to each stove. They need positive pressure to ensure that the carbon monoxide is drawn out. Any kind of alteration to it you asking for serious trouble if you don’t know what you are doing. Carbon monoxide has no smell and it will kill you VERY quickly.
Please find an alternative way to extract
I think the OP is referring to the currently unconnected exhaust fitting as opposed to the one fitted to the furnace (the one right below the furnace). Would there be concerns with exploring that exhaust?
Yes it will still cause an issue. I’d be re fitting and re sealing the cap that was originally fitted also as it likely shares the same exit on the other side of that wall. If the single wall pipe is vented into the chimney stack or chamber the stack has to fill up with smoke and heat it before the needed draw is created to be able to pull the smoke and carbon monoxide out and away from the building.
Correct, I’m looking to exhaust out of the bottom, capped vent.
Might unhook the furnace vent, hook the inline fan up to the lower capped vent and see if airflow comes back into the furnaces exhaust vent…or something.
My grow is in the furthest spot from a window…venting that way is just not an option.
Would I be better off just getting a dehumidifier and an 8" fan and filter ran on low-med? Kind of like a half-assed closed system.
Our dryer vent is pretty much at the front of the house…dog walkers, mailmen, passer-byers, etc would be able to sniff me out easily if I went that route.
Use any solution you can find other than the one originally suggested.
Please put the cap back on the pipe as it will lower the pressure and push the carbon monoxide and smoke back into the room through the open pipe if it does indeed lead into the chimney stack like I suspect.
Amen man beat me to that one lol should leave the cap on as it’s there for a reason I just wouldn’t use your chimney unless you get it all lined out
Properly so you know there are no leaks. Which is very costly.
Thanks for the help all!! Cap was put back on after I took the pic, I dont know what I’m doing, so I just left it as I found it.
Dehumidifier , 8" fan, 8" to 6" reducer, 6" carbon filter, fan running on low…think this will be adequate for a 2’w x 5’l x 7’h room?..I’m only using a 2’w x 3’l x 7’h footprint.
Yeah I’ve pushed many a chimney liner down stacks it’s no easy task standing on top of a chimney spinning the tubes to get them around bends like a massive lasso to get them down a chimney. It may only be 10 - 15 meters from pot to ground level vertically but how stacks are built you can add an extra 5 meters on as they run on angles through a house with several bends before you hit ground level.
I just wouldn’t use your chimney unless you get it all lined out